When the Neo-Nazi group, the National Socialist Movement, came to Olympia, Washington, community members responded by celebrating diversity and unity in the community. (8 min 39 sec)
Related Local Lesson: A Guide to Responding to Hate Groups: Lessons from Olympia, Washington
Video Category: Hate Groups
An excerpt from Not In Our Town Northern California, after a cross burning struck fear into a family, the community marches to lend their support. When an African-American resident of the small Northern California town of Anderson woke one winter morning in 2004 to an 8-foot-tall burning cross on her lawn, neighbors, city and church leaders quickly organized in support of her and her young family. (5:33)
This film is part of the hour-long Not In Our Town: Northern California special. Click here to purchase the DVD and download our free educator guide here.
An excerpt from Not In Our Town Northern California, a city unites in action after three synagogues are burned.
In the early morning hours of June 18, 1999, arsonists attacked three Sacramento area synagogues. Congregation B'nai Israel, Kenesset Israel Torah Center, and Congregation Beth Shalom were set ablaze within a 45-minute period. The fires destroyed thousands of books and historic Holocaust documents, and investigators found anti-Semitic fliers within the wreckage of two of the three synagogues. The attacks not only shook the foundation of Sacramento's Jewish community, but also shocked and horrified people of all faiths and backgrounds. Almost as quickly as the fires were started, the community of Sacramento mobilized to take a stand against anti-Semitic hate crimes.(5:59)
This film is part of the hour-long Not In Our Town: Northern California special. Click here to purchase the DVD and download our free educator guide here.
An excerpt from Not In Our Town II, broadcast on PBS in 1996. South Carolina citizens rebuild churches and act to prevent racially-motivated arson.
This video chronicles community response to church arsons in the 1990's. In the Heart of the South -- St. John Baptist Church in South Carolina, originally founded by slaves, was nearly destroyed by racially motivated vandalism in 1985. Ten years later in 1995, it burned to the ground. As members of this small congregation gather at the charred ruins and vow to rebuild we meet Ammie Murray, who leads community efforts in support of the parishioners and New York Fire Fighter Pete Critsimilios who was so moved by St. John Baptist's plight that he sent 100 engraved bibles. Also profiled are labor union members who rebuild churches throughout the South. (4:58)
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After a fatal gun shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, members of the Knoxville, TN, community get together and use Not In Our Town films to mobilize community discussion and action. (3:56)
When the Ku Klux Klan announced they would rally in Kokomo, Indiana, civic leaders decided to respond. To prepare, police studied videotapes of other recent Klan actions and encouraged community members who opposed the KKK to organize their own counter event. The local newspaper organized a petition for tolerance, and on the day the Klan rallied, hundreds of citizens gathered across town for a Unity rally. (3:51)